The press said "missing child". There are tons and tons of those. I can see 115 stereotypical kidnapping making metro news, the odd one going national. But from what I could see, they just plain couldn't find her, and she was one of the 2000.

They're not talking about "missing kid." They're talking about "newsworthy missing kid." There are things they aren't saying that are implicit that make it newsworthy, and the people who read these stories take that as a given -- she likely didn't run away, she was in a low-risk environment, and she wasn't kidnapped by an estranged family member. She's not one of the 2000, and that's why she's news.

Newsworthy isn't a just criterion, it's a criterion that simply means what are people interested in reading about? It's too bad that people aren't terribly interested in the hunger crisis in Somalia, but there's no rule that the news has to prioritize stories based on how many people are suffering by it. People want to read about unlikely things, not another custody dispute that leads to a domestic kidnapping.

She's not one of the 2000, and that's why she's news.

And if it turns out to be accidental death, then it's heartrending, and a chance to do a spate of stories on Dangers to Kids for ratings.

"Your Darling Is In Danger! Here Is What You Need To Fear Now! And Stare Suspiciously At These People! Check Our Website For More!!"

I used to regularly keep up with this: [link] which gives a monthly rundown of any resolved missing persons cases. It's interesting just how many are runaways/parental kidnappings. Just skimming through the last three months* none of them seem similar to the Cass case, which to me, makes the Cass case newsworthy to a parent.

* of course, the cases are weighted to solved disappearances.

she likely didn't run away, she was in a low-risk environment, and she wasn't kidnapped by an estranged family member. She's not one of the 2000, and that's why she's news.

So you're saying she's one of the 115, not the 2000? And was it a case that press coverage could help solve?

Are Craig Ferguson fans watching the shows from Paris this week? They're excellent. Kristin Bell in a beret!

So you're saying she's one of the 115, not the 2000? And was it a case that press coverage could help solve?

yes, one of the 115. Without your original link, I would assume that a large portion of the 115 includes kids in what people would consider high-risk situations -- kids who live in maybe poor areas, or who like in my link, are living with a cult (!), or foster homes, or whatever. Crime happening to someone who is in a high-risk environment is less newsworthy than a kid who's in her own house in a small town. Whether or not press coverage would help -- the press is in the eyeball business, not the solving missing-kid business. They wouldn't be in business long if their primary aim was drawing attention to the stories that could use it most.

are living with a cult (!)

It happens!

Actually I'd like to see some numbers on that. I remember a woman doing a one woman show about her experience growing up on a Synanon compound.

Also, Teppy and Billytea's experiences with FAC make me suspect they're more prevalent than is generally acknowledged.

Synanon! That's the name! DH and I were talking about cults the other day and I was trying to explain to him how deeply the Jonestown events affected me as a kid. But part of it was that the whole cult thing seemed so prevalent.

Synanon and Jonestown cults had a common emphasis on creating a post-racist culture which pulled a lot of people from the counter culture. Both of those groups were notable for being racially integrated.

Reading up on the cults in Wikipedia I'm experiencing tremendous turmoil in the subtext.

There's obvious seeding of a stance which isn't exactly pro-cult, but tries to spin it as New Religious Movements, and define the opposition as some minority Anti Cult Movement.

But there's even deeper subtext because from a sociological perspective the mechanisms which define a cult are the basic levers and pulleys of society. Social pressure and indoctrination etc.

And beyond that there's a deeper taboo tapdance around the fact that religious history and cults are very difficult to disentangle.